Tiger Tales Parent News Dec. 2014
News For & About Raymore Elementary & Early Childhood!
Amazing moments abound in our school family!
Happy December!
It's hard to believe it's December! What a wonderful gift it continues to be to work with your children each day as they build positive leadership skills and celebrate progress toward learning goals that our teachers are committed to helping them develop and reach. Thank you for partnering with us in that journey each day! We are also excited to announce our newest community-school partner, 1st Baptist Church of Raymore! We thank them for their help with library shelving, Tiger Buddies, C.A.N., Holiday Meal deliveries, and more!
Did you know that our staff sets strategic goals each year to help guide our work with helping our students learn and grow? This year, we have four goals to grow in math achievement, literacy learning, engaging technology use, and developing kindness, character, and leadership among our students. Kudos to our Building Leadership Team for their wonderful leadership of our work here!
I have a truly amazing and dedicated staff, and you should see the awesome learning, relationships, and fun they create for our kids each day here! Check out some of the highlights and pictures anytime on our website raymoretigers.weebly.com or by following us on Twitter @raymoretigers! Some of you would like to know how to say thanks to our teachers this Christmas...PTA can help! Contact your head room parent for details.
As many of us celebrate our blessings this Christmas, we recognize that, for some, this can be a difficult time of year. Please consider donating to C.A.N. or purchasing a holiday meal voucher for one of our families in need. Details are later in this newsletter. Together, our generous support can go a long way to make a difference in the lives of our kids!
We look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming Winter Parties! See our school website or the bottom of this newsletter for details. And if you haven't already heard, the "Blue Trunk Show" with exotic animals is coming on January 7 free of charge to our school at 5:30 & 6:30 pm! Check out details at http://www.wildanimaladventure.com/ Thank you for your continued partnership each and every day as together we help your child develop a love of learning. As always, please feel free to call me if you ever have a concern or question. I am happy to help.
From our school family to each of yours, I wish you a wonderful Christmas & a safe holiday!
Warmly,
Dr. Michelle Hofmann, Proud Principal!
Tis the Season! RP Inclement Weather Procedures
Calling all WatchD.O.G.S.- current & future!
Mark your calendars and please plan on attending one of the WatchDOGS refreshers and sign up days: Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00pm in the RE Cafeteria (Pizza will be served!) or Friday, December 19th at 7:30am in the RE library (There will be donuts!)
*We will have the calendars for the rest of the year to sign up
*You can bring your kids to share in the pizza or donuts
*We will be sharing some key points about the program
**You must attend the refresher night or morning to sign up for dates January - May.
**If you missed the full training in the Fall and would like to become a WatchDOG from January - May, you can receive the training this night/morning too. Please be sure to bring $12 for the background check if you didn't pay last year.
RSVP - http://goo.gl/forms/RVeBvLFtVx so we know how much food to buy!
Thank you to the over 125 dads who have already served, and all of our future D.O.G.S. too! Your presence provides a positive, male role model & security presence that makes a difference in our school! And a big thank you to PTA & Mrs. Beck in the support of this program!
Exotic Animal "Blue Trunk Show" family event coming to our school Jan. 7 @ 5:30 or 6:30 pm-FREE!
Wayside Waifs "No More Bullies" Program Returns to Raymore for the 3rd year!
Have you heard about Wayside's program "No More Bullies"? Humane Education manager, Allison (featured center), and her four-legged helper, Justice (left), have been in our 3rd and 4th grade classrooms in Nov & Dec teaching students about compassion, self-control, responsibility and integrity, and how those character traits will help empower them to stand up to bullying in the world! Check out our pictures in their story on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/WaysideWaifs/posts/10152908834602387 Thank you to Mrs. Beck for bringing this program to our school!
Wishes Come True for Isaiah & Ella!
Celebrating our Thanksgiving Lunch as a School Family!
3rd Graders Honor Veterans & Service(wo)men with Music!
Kindness, Character, Leadership & 7 Habits of Happy Kids!
Introducing Habit #2 in December: Begin With the End in Mind
Sparky the elf in Mrs. Thompson's class is looking for boys and girls who are "Being Proactive," Habit #1 this year!
Together, Our Generosity Can Help Families in Need This Season!
Again this year, the RP Public School Foundation and Price Chopper in Raymore are partnering together to help provide meals for families in need. Our school partner, First Baptist Church of Raymore, is going to deliver all the meals! Meal Vouchers are available through Mon, Dec. 15, to purchase for $25. The meal will include: 1 turkey, 1 Stove Top stuffing mix, 2 cans of green beans, 2 cans of sweet potatoes, 1 pkg. of marshmallows, 1 box of instant potatoes, 2 gravy mixes, 1 cranberry sauce, 1 pkg. of dinner rolls, and 1 no-bake cheesecake mix. Pay for your voucher at the Ray-Pec Admin Building, the Raymore Chamber office, Raymore Price Chopper, or online at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/RPFoundation?code=email
All families requesting holiday assistance through the Adopt-A-Family program have been adopted by many of you, our staff, and community volunteers like First Baptist Church of Raymore! Thank you for your incredible gift of kindness to many of our school families facing tough times this Christmas!
Thank you for helping make a difference in our school and community!
Field Trip Chaperones-New Procedures in our District
We love our parent volunteers! Many of you volunteer to help make our field trips a success for kids each year. As we know, the world has changed greatly, and with that comes new procedures in school districts designed to ensure the safety of our students and parents' peace of mind. One of those new procedures is that our field trip chaperons will now need to complete and pass a background check, free of charge, prior to the trip. We appreciate your support as Ray-Pec and our school take this step. We thank you for donating your time as chaperons to help our teachers make learning come alive through the field trips for our kids! And a HUGE thank you to PTA for donating $7.50 per elementary child toward field trips each year and covering the transportation costs of buses! Your membership helps make possible this and so many other neat things for our students, so please consider joining at http://raymoreelementarypta.weebly.com/index.html
Calling all other labels & Boxtops for PTA to help our school!
Can you volunteer?
- PTA event helper
- WatchD.O.G.S. dads*
- Tiger Buddies 1:1 student mentor/tutor*
- Library Shelvers*
- Lamination & Cut/Make Project Assistance
- C.A.N. food pantry donor
- PTA Board Member or Committee chairperson
Teacher Ease Portal to Student Progress Open for Parents
On October 17, TeacherEase, the new portal for teachers to track student progress, opened for parent viewing! We are excited about this new opportunity for parents to see their child's learning progression with targets throughout the year. Inside TeacherEase, K-8 parents can also find the quarterly Progress Report for their child, but the greatest feature is that Teacher Ease can now offer on-going access to progress vs. only a quarterly snapshot. Stay tuned to for login procedures. Our goal as a district is to provide a high quality product that meets the needs of our teachers and parents, and we will continue to evolve this program. Our amazing teachers are excited to be able to share with you your child's progress in an on-going manner.
If you ever have any questions about your child's progress, including what you view in TeacherEase, we encourage you to always reach out to your child's teacher. They are always helpful in clarifying more about your child's progress and goals to learn and be the best they can be!
Click here for helpful info about standards-referenced approach to assessment & grading in RP
Friendly School Reminders & Opportunities
- For security of all kids and staff, welcome to our new secured vestibule/entrance! Please be prepared to present your State ID/Driver's License at the front desk. All visitors are also required to sign in and receive a visitor's badge to be worn visibly at all times. Please be sure to sign out before leaving.
- I.D.: Please be prepared to show ID anytime you are visiting our school or picking up a child. If we do not recognize you (and we try hard!), this measure ensures your child's safety and that of our school. Thank you for your support.
- We will continue to practice regular drills/procedures through out the year in classrooms and as a school for a variety of emergencies including fire/evacuation, tornado/shelter, and more. This year our staff was more extensively trained by professionals in what to do in the case of a violent intruder. Thanks to our district's leadership, we are even better equipped with the most effective strategies to protect and prevent our children in the case of a variety of emergencies.
- All cars join our north car rider line. Please remain in vehicles and ensure your child enters on the curbside of the car.
- Early Childhood sessions M, T, W, and Th are 8-11 & 11:45-2:45. Students are not in session Friday.
- Elementary Student arrival & breakfast begins at 8:25 AM. The tardy bell is 8:45 AM. Dismissal begins at 3:45.
- All students who walk/bike to school on their own should wait for Mrs. Wratney our crossing guard for assistance to cross Madison or our parking lot.
- "Grab & Go" Breakfast is available for purchase by ALL kids & they enjoy in class as they begin their day. Hot breakfast can be chosen from 8:25-8:35 and then eaten in the cafe as well.
- Sunday afternoon "SchoolMessenger" voice messages from me should be arriving to update you with highlights for the week. If you are not receiving those, please login to SIS Parent Portal to change your contact settings or simply contact our school office at 892-1925.
- Sign up to receive text messages about exciting or important school events. Simply text "@repar1415" to (816) 398-7201 (standard rates apply.)
Upcoming Events:
(Always check our website for the most updated/current events!)
December:Dec 3: Papa John's Day--Mention Raymore Elementary!
Dec 16: WatchDog Training for Winter/Spring Session #2 [6-7:30pm]
Dec 17: PreK Winter Celebration Parties - M/W Spencer Classes [Two Sessions: 10am-11am and/or 1:45pm-2:45pm]
Dec 18: PreK Winter Celebration Paries - T/Th Spencer Classes/Blended [Two Sessions: 10am-11am and/or 1:45pm-2:45pm]
Dec 18: 1st Grade Holiday Musical [6:30pm in Gymnasium]
Dec 19: WatchDog Alternate/MakeUp Training for Winter/Spring Session #2 [7:30-8:00am]
Dec 19: Qtr 2 Ends [Report Cards Accessible on Teacher Ease 1/9/15]
Dec 19: K-4 Winter Parties [12:25-1:15pm] & EARLY RELEASE @ 1:15pm
Dec 22-31: NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK
January:
Jan 1, 2015: NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK
Jan 2: NO SCHOOL - STAFF WORK DAY
Jan 5: BACK TO SCHOOL
Jan 7: Our 1st ever "Blue Trunk Show" featuring exotic animals from all over the world! 2 shows: 5:30 & 6:30 pm Concessions & gifts available for sale. For details: http://www.wildanimaladventure.com/
Do you have a little one ages 3-5 for whom you are looking for child care? Try Panther Cub Academy!
ATTENTION RAYMORE-PECULIAR FAMILIES:
We still have some openings for our current school year here at PCA, located in the lower level of Raymore Elementary School. If you would like to find out more about our childcare program and preschool services, we would love for you to give us a call at 816-892-1943. We would be happy to answer questions and set up a time for you to take a tour of our childcare center.
Did You know? Panther Cub Academy uses the Emerging Language Literacy Curriculum? This curriculum is one of four Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approved curriculum and the same curriculum used by our Ray-Pec early Childhood classes. We offer smaller class sizes, daily hands-on learning activities and we offer RPSD employee discounts.
For the latest and greatest highlights of PCA, check out their recent newsletters https://www.smore.com/gd4w7 and https://www.smore.com/gd4w7-panther-cub-news
A Little Holiday Laughter...
Why is it so cold at Christmas?
- Because it is in DecemBrrrr
What do you call Santa Claus on a beach?
- Sandy Claus!
Where do snowmen go to dance?
-A snow ball!
Who says “oh oh oh” ?
-Santa walking backwards!!
How many presents can Santa fit into an empty sack?
-Only one – after that it is not empty any more!!
...& a quote to help our kids develop a growth mindset...
Merry Christmas and a Happy, Safe New Year!
Dr. Michelle Hofmann, Principal
Email: michelle.hofmann@raypec.org
Website: raymoretigers.weebly.com
Location: 500 North Madison Street, Raymore, MO
Phone: 816-892-1925
Twitter: @raymoretigers